Process of making concrete tombstones



(No Model.)

' N. G. GAMER PROCESS OF MAKING GONGRE 4 MBSTONES.

No. 461,542.. Patented Oct. 20,1891.

TO I THE Y) $71 JOHN PITHORN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEILL C. CAMERON, OF MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS.

PROCESS OF MAKING CONCRETE TOMBSTONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,542, dated October 20, 1891.

Application filed December 30, 1890. Serial No. 376,252. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NEILL O. CAMERON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Magnolia, in the county of Columbia and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Process of Making Concrete Tombstones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to a process of making artificial tombstones.

Heretofore in the manufacture of artificial tombstones it has been customary to form a mixture of sand, cement, and water, said mix ture being soft and poured in this state in an open trough and allowed to harden. Previous to a complete hardening it has been customary to run a straight-edged tool over the top of the trough, thus leveling off the stone, and then, by means of a trowel and suitable type or other character-forming devices, coontersink upon the same whatever design may be desired, together with other printed matter, such as the name, date of birth and death, the. Experience has taught that the stone thus formed is extremely porous, and hence greatly affected by the elements, and does not contain the requisite hardness to make it a success,but is liable to be chipped by knocks and even broken in handling. Furthermore, it is necessary that the same should set for a considerable length of time (usually four or five months) before considered hard enough to be set up in the grave-yard. A further disadvantage has arisen from the fact that the beveling of the edges had to be accomplished by hand, so that withal but a poor substitute for real stone was formed, and that only with considerable delay and expenditure of time and work.

Myinvention has for its object to avoid the above objections-namely, to form a stone of increased hardness and solidity, to avoid the porous nature heretofore existing, to avoid the delay in setting up the stone, and to facilitate the formation of bevels, imprints of designs, and the necessary inscription.

lVith the above objects in view the invention consists in certain steps constituting a process, hereinafter described, and in certain features of construction contained in a mold adapted to practice several of the steps constituting my process.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of a mold employed in practice in my process. Fig. 2 is a detail in bottom perspective of the lid or cover. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the stone as it emerges from the mold. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same. pleted stone. thereof.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section Like numerals and letters of reference in-- dicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The mold employed in my process comprises opposite side pieces 1, a bottom piece 2, and

a top piece 3, the bottom and top pieces con- Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the comgether by means of bolts 5, provided upon their upper threaded ends with caps 6. Near corresponding ends of the side pieces are secured head-blocks '7, bolted securely in position by bolts 8, and seated upon the same is a headpiece 9, constituting a bottom for the mold when the latter is placed in a vertical position. This constitutes the essential elements of the mold; but the latter is subject to any changes that may be thought desirable, as will be readily understood. Upon the under side of the top 3 I in this instance secure a .be'veled-edge panel 10, of the usual size and contour formed in tombstones and constituting the inscription-surface.

In practice the mold is set on end and a mixture of sand, cement, and water is made, the mass being in a plastic state and not so soft as is ordinarily the case. The mold is now gradually filled by successive shovelfuls or trowelfuls of the mass, and after each deposit the same is carefully rammed bya suitable pounding-tool, so that the mass is packed hard and snug into the mold. This is allowed to stand until sufficiently hard, after which the mold is removed by removing the nuts,'

knocking out the bolts, and then the top, sides, and head-piec, which leaves upon the bottom 2 the stone, as shown in Fig. 3. This stone A is of the usual construction and is provided upon its face with the countersunk recess B, upon the bottom of which is to be placed an inscription. A stock of stones may thus be formed and kept constantly on hand, all the time hardening and being ready for use. Now when purchased and it is desired to inscribe the same it is simply necessary to lay the stone flat upon its back and make a soft mass of sand, water, and cement similar to the mass heretofore employed for making the entire stone, run the same into the countersunk recess B, and when slightly hardened impress in the same by suitable dies any fanciful design or other character, together with the proper inscription. A week at most is amply suificient to harden the thin mass, which has by that time become integral with and formed a part of the stone.

my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in 30 presenceof two witnesses.

NEILL O. CAMERON.

it'nesses:

WM. M. JOINER, J. R. MCDANIEL. 

